The following topics were discussed during the Georgia Professional Standards Commission’s (GaPSC) monthly meetings Nov. 9-10, 2022:
Ethics
An educator who allegedly told a fifth-grade student that it was okay to like girls, asked the student about her sexual orientation, and gave the student her personal cell phone number was given a suspension of 60 days and one year of monitoring. The student allegedly contacted the educator all times of the day, including at night, and the educator allegedly never reported the matter to administration or the student’s parents.
The GaPSC recommended a suspension of 20 days for a principal accused of filming himself and a student horseplaying and posting it on social media. The educator allegedly held the student down for about 26 seconds and had his hand on the student’s neck. In mitigation, the principal resigned and acknowledged he should not have participated in the behavior. The student said he was not harmed.
Educator Preparation and Certification
The Commission granted Continuing Approval for Georgia Gwinnett College, and the following educator preparation programs reviewed during the Fall 2022 Continuing Approval Review:
Biology (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree]
Chemistry (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree]
Elementary Education (P-5) [Baccalaureate degree]
English (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree]
ESOL Endorsement Program
History (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree]
Mathematics (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree]
Middle Grades (4-8) -- Language arts, Math, Science, Social science [Baccalaureate degree]
Political Science (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree]
Reading Endorsement
Special Education General Curriculum (P-12) [Baccalaureate degree]
The Commission also granted Continuing Approval for Spelman College, and the following educator preparation programs reviewed during the Fall 2022 Continuing Approval Review:
Chemistry (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
Elementary Education (P-5) [Baccalaureate degree]
English (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
History (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
Mathematics (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
Music (P-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
Physics (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
Political Science (6-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
Spanish (P-12) [Baccalaureate degree; Certification-only]
Urban Education Endorsement
December GaPSC Meeting
The next meetings will be Dec. 7-8, 2022.